Steel Shots: Soaring Spans

The first steel arch of Dallas’ new Margaret McDermott Bridge was completed on Saturday. (Photo: @Meredithontv via Twitter)

August242015

A new landmark addition to the Dallas skyline is taking shape — in steel. The final piece of the first of two steel arches that will make up the Margaret McDermott Bridge over the Trinity River was raised into place on Saturday.

Tampa Steel Erecting Co. (an AISC Member and AISC Certified fabricator) is fabricating the twin arches for the bridge, which will soar more than 300 ft high and span 1,125 ft long. The arches are being fabricated in 78 segments, some of which are up to 60 ft long. The project is being designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava and engineered by Huitt-Zollars Inc.

The Margaret McDermott Bridge is part of the Dallas Horseshoe Project, a large-scale upgrade to bridges on I-30 and Interstate 35E that cross the Trinity River and connect roadways near downtown Dallas.